Vatican official says post-Vatican II liturgy could be perfected (reintroduce priest facing East)

Catholic News Service ^ | April 27, 2006 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

ROME (CNS) -- Liturgical changes implemented after the Second Vatican Council could be perfected, said the new secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

No one is in favor of making changes for the sake of change or even for nostalgia, said Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, the secretary, during an April 27 discussion about the direction the priest faces during Mass.

The discussion coincided with the publication of the Italian translation of Father Uwe Michael Lang's book, "Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer."

The book previously was published in English by Ignatius Press; the text includes a foreword written in 2003 by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

The cardinal, who has since become pope, said that the Second Vatican Council did not mention the direction the priest faces and the post-conciliar documents only recommended that priests be able to celebrate facing the people.

He wrote that the issue was not over a priest celebrating "with his back to the people," but rather "his facing the same direction as the people" when offering the church's most solemn prayer in consecrating the Eucharist.

At the book presentation, Father Lang said his study focused on the history and theology of the priest facing East -- the biblically symbolic direction of the Lord -- and not on the pre- or post-Vatican II liturgy.

"The idea of my book is to demonstrate that the priest is not turning his back on the people, but leading the people in prayer toward the Lord," he said.

"I think it would be a good idea to reintroduce this idea into the liturgy little by little, without a great revolution," he said, adding that he was speaking only about the moments during the Mass when the priest, on behalf of the people, is praying to God, not when he is addressing the people assembled.

Archbishop Patabendige Don was asked if Pope Benedict had ordered a study of the issue or if the congregation was moving in that direction.

"For the moment," the archbishop said, "there is nothing, but we listen to the opinions and experience of people who are interested in these questions."

While Archbishop Patabendige Don said he was convinced Catholics need help recovering the sense of mystery and of God's transcendence in the liturgy, careful study is needed on specific ideas.

"Things done in a hurry tend not to give the hoped-for results," he said.

Above all, the archbishop said, Catholics must engage in study and discussion in a calm, respectful and prayerful atmosphere "without labeling each other" as traditionalists or radicals.

Archbishop Patabendige Don said he does not necessarily agree with people who call for a "reform of the reform" of the liturgy, but he thinks Father Lang's book contains a valid call "at least for a further perfection of the reform."

[pravknight]

Grab yourself a Greek/Antiochian prayerbook and compare it with a Russian prayerbook. The differences are striking, especially when it comes to the antiphons.

They also do things differently when it comes to their usage of the Horologion.

[netmilsmom]

Why don't you trace back to Post 16 and see the smilie there?

[pravknight]

All of the altars in the Eastern rites have always been freestanding.

[livius]

From what little I know, a lot of Northern countries became Lutheran the way England became Anglican - that is, the king adopted Lutheranism and simply told everybody else that they were changing over. However, the kings weren't particularly into doctrine; it was more of a regional political affair. Connections with Rome were broken, religious orders were kicked out, but the liturgy did not change enormously and the same buildings were used. There are some Lutherans still who are more orthodox, in fact, than many modern Catholics.

[RKBA Democrat]

Beautiful picture, Kosta. Where was it taken?

[RKBA Democrat]

An interesting thread, but y'know I just can't get myself all excited up about it. Headed east and lost my dog in the fight.

[pravknight]

The Lutheran "Reformation" in Scandinavia in some ways was more conservative than that in England. There wasn't any iconoclasm that I have read about, and they even went against the Book of Concord maintaining a belief in the sacrificial priesthood.

[kosta50]

Beautiful picture, Kosta. Where was it taken?

Google image search.

[kosta50]

Lots of stuff on the altar, kosta! I don't think there's ever that much on a Latin altar. :)

Orthodox altars are "busy." There is the Tabernacle, the seven-candle menorah, two sets of intertwined candles for a "pontifical" service -- by a bishop. One set of candles has three intertwined candles the other two. One set stands for the Holy Trinity, the other for the Dual Nature of Chirst. Then there is the bishop's crown, the Presanctified Gifts, sitting on the Antimension or Antimis cloth, and two priests asisting the bishop.

Here is a picture of an Antimension (but they come in a variety)

[kosta50]

Grab yourself a Greek/Antiochian prayerbook and compare it with a Russian prayerbook

I am familair with Slavonic liturgy, so I can's say. But I will pay more attention next time I am in a Greek or Antiochan church (I prefer Slavonic singing to either of the other two; what can I say, personal preference).

[pravknight]

The Antiochians/Greeks don't use the Psalms for the antiphons, nor do they say the Beatitudes.

[pravknight]

Take a look here at this Lutheran Church in Detroit. It's more Catholic looking than a lot of Novus Ordo parishes.

http://www.ziondetroit.org

[kosta50]

The Antiochians/Greeks don't use the Psalms for the antiphons, nor do they say the Beatitudes

Their loss. :)

The Beatitudes (third Antiphon) are my favorite part of at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy -- they just about define what Christianity is all about.

But these differences do not change the Divine Liturgy, just as the homily given either after the reading of the Gospel or at the end of the Divine Liturgy doesn't.

[Straight Vermonter]

[red irish]

amen amen amen

[pravknight]

The rubrics also differ slightly. I'm in a rush right now, so I don't have enough time to explain.